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Bo Pelini hoists the game ball and puts his hand on the shoulder of the recipient, Eric Kapitulik.

Photo by Scott Bruhn/Nebraska Communications

Huskers Give Marine the Michigan Game Ball

By NU Athletic Communications

| 11/01/2012

Randy
York’s N-Sider

In last Saturday
night’s postgame press conference in the North Stadium Complex, Bo Pelinimet the pressand
provided insighton Nebraska’s 23-9 win over
Michigan.
So
did Jeremiah Sirles, Ameer Abdullah, Sean Fisherand P.J. Smith. There’s no
doubt that Nebraska’s head coach and four key contributors had major
investments in the pivotal win they were discussing, but no one was more
interested in hearing them elaborate than a Naval Academy graduate who became a
Major in the United States Marine Corps. Somehow, Eric Kapitulik(pronounced Kappa-too-lick) maintained his
anonymity while standing near the back of NU’s strength and conditioning
complex, even though he was holding the game ball that Pelini presented to him
in a packed locker room just minutes before the press conference.

At the urging
of a jubilant team, Pelini made the presentation after everyone in the locker
room took a knee to reflect on the game and what drives them to play. According
to several Huskers, the period of grace that the Huskers share privately
following every game was momentarily interrupted by senior safety Daimion
Stafford, who was
standing on the bench in front of his locker, surveying the same landscape as a
proud head coach preparing to address his equally gratified team. Kapitulik was
doing what he always does ... blending in and concentrating on three
competitive imperatives: 1) Listening; 2) learning and 3)
analyzing leadership in action.

Stafford
Spots Honoree in the Locker Room

Let the
record show that this was one time when an infantry and special operations
officer in the Marines, not to mention a platoon commander that led 20 covert
Special Forces missions, could not blend in with the woodwork ... at
least not in Nebraska and definitely not when Daimion Stafford was in the room.

“Hey, there’s
our teammate!” Stafford yelled, pointing at Kapitulik, whose company, The Program, located
in suburban Boston, worked with the Nebraska football team extensively last
winter after the Huskers lost the Capital One Bowl in Orlando.

Kapitulik had
flown into Lincoln Saturday morning and, according to several Husker players
and coaches, delivered one of the most inspiring pregame speeches you can
imagine. He qualified for that opportunity because he personally designed a
leadership development training regimen that challenged every member of
Nebraska’s football team to get “that much better” – a term he uses often as he
separates his thumb from the closest finger.

Stafford’s
outburst triggered a locker room full of players and coaches who knew, deep
down, how much impact Kapitulik and his company had in helping Nebraska
transform a 28-point 2011 loss to Michigan into a 14-point win over the
Wolverines in Lincoln. Once the Huskers spotted their “teammate”, Pelini motioned
him to the middle of the room with his right hand so Kapitulik could join him
in the circle as he hoisted the football in his left hand.

Husker Players Chant, Yell, Jump, Applaud

“As I walked
through all the players,they were slapping me on the back and yelling ‘Game Ball ... Game
Ball!’” Kapitulik said. “I couldn’t hear the rest of what Coach Pelini was
saying because the team was chanting and yelling and jumping up and down. What
Daimion started, the whole team seemed to pick up on, and they just went crazy, even
though I was in the locker room as an observer, not as someone to get a game ball.

“Coach Pelini
was talking to the team after the game about the same things I was talking to
the team about before the game,” Kapitulik said. “If someone had told me four years
ago when I started The Program that I would have the opportunity to be
in the Nebraska locker room getting a game ball ... I mean, I bet on myself, I
bet on my teammates and we all have unbelievable trust in each other being
successful, but this was certainly an honor that I never expected and one that I will never forget.”

I’ve watched
Kapitulik’s speech, and it is riveting. But it is also the private property of
its only intended audience – Nebraska players, coaches and support staff,
period, end of sentence.

I can,
however, frame up how and why a 40-year-old former Marine, who also happens to
be a University of Chicago business school grad, decides to launch his own
leadership training company that chooses to provide scholarship funds for
children of deceased comrades.

He
Had Close Call; Best Friend Died in War

As a Marine
Corps captain, Kapitulik commanded a platoon that crashed into the side of ship
in 1999 and plunged into the water while attempting to land on an aircraft
carrier. Six men died in that tragedy, yet Kapitulik, who had fractured his
leg, managed to haul himself out of the sinking helicopter, hand-over-hand, one
step at a time.

Not once in his pregame speech did
Kapitulik mention the tragedy he survived.Instead he
focused on Major Doug Zembiec, a two-time NCAA All-American wrestler at
the U.S. Naval Academy and a fellow U.S. Marine Corps Major.

Zembiec was
killed in action while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He has been called
the “Lion of Fallujah” and the “Unapologetic Warrior” for his heroism that is
detailed in the book No True Glory: A Front-line Account of the Battle of
Fallujah. Zembiec was rewarded with a Silver Star, a Bronze Star and two
Purple Hearts for wounds incurred in action.

Doug Zembiec
was Eric Kapitulik’s best friend at the Naval Academy and best friend in the
Marines. Kapitulik is a godparent to his late friend's only daughter. Zembiec will be remembered for warning his troops and
saving the lives of the unit he led into a dark Baghdad alley on May
11, 2007.

Marine
Corps Taught Kapitulik How to Lead

Football is
hardly military combat, but Kapitulik uses the sport as a metaphor and a way to
honor competitors that bond like soldiers fighting for a common cause.
Kapitulik had a vague idea of what makes a good leader but couldn’t define it
until he joined the Marine Corps. “The Corps really taught me what being a
great leader is,” he said. “They taught me, they challenged me, and they helped
instill leadership in me more than anybody else, anywhere, anytime.”

For that
reason, Pelini asked James Dobson, Nebraska’s head strength and
conditioning coach, to check out The Program, an organization that Dobson knew had a good reputation. Once Dobson gathered more information from the Quincy, Massachusetts-based company, Pelini gave the green light to hire the company to help build Nebraska's
leadership and to define, develop and improve teamwork. The Program took
the Huskers to their limits, using such exercises as helping teammates that
can’t swim tread water. In a competitive exercise, they also asked individuals and teams to haul 35- to
50-pound sandbags and 7- to14-foot log poles.

“Every
off-season you try to get better, and you look around for someone that can help
make you better,” Dobson said. “What Eric does and how he does it is great. Our
guys really bought into The Program. Our players learned some things,
and our staff learned some things. When we went through those two days of
training, it was different than anything we’ve ever done. It put us in
positions we haven’t seen. Sometimes, it takes an outside source to do that and
then take the lessons you learn and go from there.

“When you’ve
been there like Eric has and listen to what he’s experienced, there’s more
credibility,” Dobson said. “I have a hard time with leaders who give their two
cents worth and then just hand things out. Eric is the leader of his company,
but he was on the floor every day with our guys. He was around them. He listened
to them. He taught them. He was involved with everything they were saying and
was in the thick of everything they were doing. He had credibility. He had a
mindset. He influenced leaders.”

Nebraska
Demonstrated Its Sense of Purpose

Against
Michigan, the Huskers showed a sense of urgency and and a sense of purpose. They also had a keen sense of honoring the right person with a game
ball.

For every
football program that The Program trains, it honors a player and
presents a shirt to the player that most exemplifies the training program’s
core principles of mental and physical toughness, no excuses and working hard.
Even though there were all kinds of worthy recipients for that honor, Kenny Bellwas selected as the top-rated teammate for The
Program’s intense leadership training at Nebraska.

“The
Program taught me how to lead and how to lead in the right way,” Bell said.
“That was the No. 1 thing I got out of it. More importantly, Mr. Kapitulik
taught us all how to treat each other and how to operate as a team. It meant a
lot to me to see him get a game ball, particularly for the Michigan game
because that was a pretty significant victory.”

Being the
teammate he’s become, Bell made it a point to give Stafford a huge pat on the
back. “It was awesome when Daimion saw Mr. Kapitulik in the back of the room
and then reminded us and let everybody know how important that program was,”
Bell said. “We were all feeling great. We all just a got a big ‘W’, yet we all
knew that our focus had to change to Michigan State in a matter of hours.”

Kenny
Bell: Kapitulik Deserved the Game Ball

Kapitulik
“definitely deserved that game ball for the way he’s affected this team,” Bell
said. “When he implemented his program, it really molded us a team. I mean, he
and his company are a huge reason for the way we’ve come together and handled
adversity. Personally, I learned so much myself that it’s provided the biggest
change in my career, as far as my outlook on our program and what it means to
be a part of it.

“Mr.
Kapitulik absolutely knows how to lead and how to train others so they can
lead,” Bell said. “What I like most is he didn’t just instill leadership in me.
He got inside the heads and hearts of our whole team.”

For evidence,
Bell asks a certain writer to look at Will Compton, who was a solid leader before The
Program training and a great leader afterwards. “Will has done such a great
job all year,” Bell said. “He’s not only led the defense, but keeps everybody
on the team working towards the same mindset. He’s such a great spokesman for
our team, internally and externally. He represents all of us in everything he
says.”

Compton believes winning a championship requires a vision consistent with
the intense leadership training every Husker has taken. “You create it, and you
try to get everybody on board with that same vision,” Compton said. “I think it
makes us a very tough team to beat. We have one ultimate goal and one way to do
things. The coaches have done a great job handling it the way they have.
They’ve taken a player’s opinion of things and adjusted some things around.
It’s been pretty much a no excuse, no explanation type of season.”

Designed
to Spur Leadership, Build Teamwork

The
Program, in essence,
is designed to spur leadership development, personal development and team
building through shared adversity. Nebraska got a big dose of adversity in its
first road game at UCLA and another major dose in a disastrous second half at
Ohio State. Fortunately, the Huskers didn’t panic, applied their leadership
training and have set their sights on each individual week for the rest of the season.

“It was a
privilege to talk to the team before the game, to be with them on the sidelines
during the game and then to receive the game ball at the end of the game,”
Kapitulik said. “For Coach Pelini to allow my teammates and me the opportunity
to work with Nebraska football is such an honor for all of us. I grew up in New
England. I know and respect the great programs in college football, and
Nebraska is certainly right up there with the very best.”

In his
pregame speech, Kapitulik talked about the “bold initiatives” his late friend
took to save the lives of his comrades in Bagdad. He talked about being his
classmate, his teammate and his friend and went on to explain why men and women fight for
their country.

“If you ask
why they fight, they’ll all tell you they attack for the warrior on their left and the warrior on
their right," Kapitulik said. "That’s what I want to share with you, men, because I want
to challenge you to do the same thing – attack for the warrior on your left and
for the warrior on your right.”

This
Leader Came to Watch Nebraska ATTACK

“Men, it’s my
pleasure to be here and to come and watch you all play,” Kapitulik said. “But
as we said six months ago when we met each other, men, I didn’t come here to
watch you all play. I came here to watch the men of Nebraska football attack,
so let’s make sure you do exactly that – attack!”

Nebraska
offensive tackle Jeremiah Sirlesenjoyed Kapitulik’s pregame speech so much that he
watched it again this week in the Nebraska football video room. “He (Kapitulik)
had a big impact on us,” Sirles said. “When he came in here in the winter,
he commanded immediate respect. He just takes over a room and then teaches you
why teamwork is so important. It was great to hear him speak, to have him on
our sideline and then inside our locker room getting the game ball. We all
wanted to show him what we’ve been working so hard for and thank him for
helping us start our journey. He deserved that game ball because he really
solidified who we are and why we’re a close-knit team. To finish what we’ve
started, we have to keep attacking every game we play.”

The Huskers mustattack for every man on their left and every man on their right ... for
every man in front and every man behind. They must attack for others
that would treasure the honor like a surprised and a humbled Eric Kapitulik
... one of The Few, The Proud, the Marines ... ever faithful, always
loyal and now a certified member of Nebraska’s extended family.

Thanks for a great article and good for Coach Pelini and the
Nebraska team. I don't know Eric Kapitulik, who is now a proud Husker, but
my wife and I watched Doug Zembiec
wrestle any number of times at the Naval Academy, where he was terrific. He
was also one heroic Marine. I'm forwarding this story to a group of my closest
Naval Academy friends, including two great wrestlers who became Marines – Lt.Gen.
John Sattler and Tom Jones. As I recall, John was Major Zembiec's commander
when he was the senior Marine in Iraq during the worst of the fighting in Fallujah,
Ramadi, etc. Thanks for writing this article and Semper Fidelis! And remember,
only nine days until the Marine Corps' Birthday on Nov. 10. Dan
Nelson, Washington, D.C.

Great article!!! Very touching and powerful! I’m the son of a
retired military service man who was in Vietnam and Iraq – eight years in the
Navy and 32 years in the Army. I played Division II football in college
and was blessed to play for some years after college. Reading this article
brought up some great memories of my football career and pride in what our
service men and women do for us all. I always said that if I could grow up to
become half the man that my father is, I would be proud. His guidance and
football have helped me to keep moving forward to obtain that goal. Thanks
for writing this story behind the game ball. GO BIG RED! Jeff
Reed, Waverly, Nebraska

Thank you for this story. I continue
to be proud of this program and what it stands for, and we all should be proud
of this piece. Bill Moran, Pottsville, Pennsylvania

I
just want you to know the article about the former Marine brought tears of
pride to my eyes. You do a great job of getting "inside" Husker
sports. Keep up the excellent work, and Go Big Red!!! Mike Gall, Edgerton, Kansas

As
a retired Marine, I take pride in the article you wrote!! There are many
retired "Husker Marines" and know that our own can help out our
beloved Huskers means a lot!! Thank you for the article!! Semper Fi!! OOOOOORAHHH!!!!
Rodney
Eskam, Bedford, Indiana

Just
read your latest N-Sider on Eric Kapitulik (via
Twitter) and wanted to send you a quick note letting you know how much I
enjoyed it. Very well written. I hope Eric's impact to the team will
continue to inspire them through the remainder of the season and for years to
come. Keep up the good work. GBRI Sara Nelson, Overland Park, Kansas

It’s
great to hear stories about how a team can be motivated and come together and how one guy can have such a positive ripple
effect on a whole team.Thanks for a GREAT story! Tim Adams, Elkhorn, Nebraska

Thank you for the story about the Marine getting
the game ball. My nephew was a United States Marine who lost his
life five years ago last week on his base in Virginia, so this story about Eric
Kapitulik getting the Nebraska game ball is meaningful to me. Susan
Pierce-Lincoln